Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

in a REGULAR meeting on ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, January 17, 2024 The ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION convened Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramberg called the Environmental Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Perry Bedford, Jennifer Bristol, Haris Qureshi, Kevin Ramberg, and David Sullivan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Richard Brimer, Peter Einhorn, Hanna Cofer, Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, Melinda Schiera Commissioners Absent: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alicia Valdes -Tree planting event APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular Meeting on December 6, 2023 The minutes of the Environmental Commission Regular meeting on December 6, 2023 were approved on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Qureshi’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Nickells and Cofer abstained. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a recommendation to Austin City Council regarding the creation, continuation, termination, and status of a concession including issuance of a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to City Council annually. Presenter(s): Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II and Pat Rossett, Business Process Consultant, Parks and Recreation Department 1 Speakers Denisha Cox, PARD (Parks and Recreation Department) Kimery Duda, Expedition School Patricia Rossett, PARD Suzanne Piper, PARD A motion to support the 2023 Annual Report of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Managed Concessions was approved on Commissioner Bristol’s motion, Commissioner Einhorn’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Cofer recused. COMMITTEE UPDATES 3. Update from the Urban Forestry Committee – Richard Brimer (Committee Chair), Mariana Krueger, Colin Nickells, and Melinda Schiera Commissioner Brimer shared an update on the Urban Forestry Committee and asked members to share agenda items. 4. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee – Haris Qureshi (member) and Richard Brimer (alternate member) Commissioner Qureshi shared an update on a resolution on energy solutions from the Joint Sustainability Committee. 5. Update from the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Jennifer Bristol 6. Update from the Joint Committee of the Environmental Commission and Parks and Recreation Board – Perry Bedford, Hanna Cofer, Haris Qureshi, and Kevin Ramberg 7. Update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board – David Sullivan Commissioner Sullivan shared an update from the South Central Waterfront Advisory Board. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Cofer requested a presentation on vehicle parking analysis and environmental impacts of various types of parking options. Commissioner Bristol seconded. Commissioner Qureshi requested a briefing on the potential of incentivizing trucks to take 130 rather than I35. Commissioner Brimer seconded. Commissioner Brimer requested an estimated cost to remediate the Polo Field at Zilker Park prior to the budget cycle. Commissioner Sullivan seconded. 2 Commissioner Bedford requested information on charging stations in cold temperatures. Elizabeth Funk will reach out to Austin Energy staff for information. ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramberg adjourned the meeting at 7:17 P.M. The minutes were approved at the February 7, 2024 meeting on Commissioner Bedford’s motion, Commissioner Sullivan’s second on a 9-0 vote. 3